flat file

A data file that is not related to or does not contain any linkages to another file. It is generally used for stand-alone lists. When files must be related (customers to orders, vendors to purchases, etc.), a relational database manager is used, not a flat file manager. Flat files can be related, but only if the applications are programmed to do so. See relational database.

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(operating system, storage)

flat file - A single file containing flat ASCII representing or encoding some structure, e.g. of a database, tree, or network. Flat files can be processed with general purpose tools (e.g. awk or Perl) and text editors but are often less efficient than some kind of binary file if they must be parsed repeatedly by a program. Flat files are more portable between different operating systems and application programs than binary files, and are more easily transmitted in electronic mail. See also flatten, sharchive.